The Avalanche (8-5-0) have won their last six meetings with the Flames
(6-5-3), including four at the Pepsi Center. They have taken two matchups this
season, including a 3-2 overtime victory on Oct. 26 when Ryan Smyth scored 23
seconds into the extra period.

Sakic had two points in that win and has 39 goals and 100 points in 74
career games against Calgary, his highest totals against any club.

The Avs captain extended his points streak to seven games with a late assist
on Saturday, but Colorado lost 4-3 to Vancouver to end its franchise-high tying
six-game home winning streak to start a season. The Avalanche allowed two
power-play goals, including the eventual game-winner by Daniel Sedin with 6:35
to play in the third period.

“We had too many penalties, but that wasn’t our only problem,” Avs coach
Joel Quenneville said. “We put the puck on sticks in dangerous areas and paid
for it.”

The Avalanche will try to re-establish their home success in the fourth game
of a five-contest homestand. They overcame a four-goal deficit in their last
home meeting with Calgary, winning 5-4 in a shootout on Oct. 16.

Paul Stastny engineered that rally with three assists, and he added two more
against the Canucks on goals from Marek Svatos, giving him team highs of 12
assists and 17 points. The 21-year-old center has 15 points in 10 career games
against the Flames.

Svatos, Colorado’s leader with seven goals, has scored four times in his
last four contests. The right wing has also had success against Calgary, scoring
eight times in 10 games.

The Flames are hoping they can improve their special teams and avoid their
second three-game losing streak of the season.

They have allowed opponents to go 3-for-6 on the man-advantage during the
last two games, while their power play has come up empty on 10 opportunities.
Overall, the penalty-killing unit has allowed 20 goals in 76 power plays—only
Atlanta has allowed more (22).

Calgary allowed another power-play goal in a 4-1 loss at Minnesota on
Saturday in the first of eight consecutive meetings with divisional foes.

“We played decent enough five-on-five, but it was our special teams that let
us down,” Flames coach Mike Keenan said. “And our power play didn’t come through
when we had the opportunity.”

The Flames have failed to convert on 14 power-play chances in their last
three games against Colorado.

Jarome Iginla, who scored the lone goal against the Wild, has eight points
in his last five contests, giving him 21 points on the season. He’s tied with
Mats Sundin of Toronto for second in the league behind Detroit’s Henrik
Zetterberg (24).

Iginla’s 51 points in 59 games against Colorado rank as his highest output
against any team. He has three points in two games against the Avalanche this
year.